Chapter 238 - Dysphoria (2/2)

First was her constant battle with her father, then her miscarriage. Now, she had to deal with incidents that involved the Suis. Oh, throw in Natalia on the list too.

Maxen pursed his lips. He brushed the hair which covered Olivia's side profile, tucking it behind her ear. ”If you feel like floating, then let me float with you until we reach the shore. How about that?”

”But…” Olivia paused, swallowing down another wave of inexplicable emotions which she attributed to her hormone fluctuating like a jellyfish in dancing in the sea. ”I don't want to drag you with my drama.”

”Hey,” Maxen warned. He pinched her chin and shook her ever so slightly. ”You're not dragging me. I'm tying myself to you. Indefinitely. Up to the ends of the Earth. Besides, I love drama. Just exactly what I needed.” He winked.

Suddenly, the midnight rain stopped along with Olivia's transitory period of meltdown. Across her, Maxen's boyish grin sent a fluttering feeling in the pit of Olivia's stomach, somehow relieving her of her melancholy.

”You do? Then why did you cancel our date night last time when I got... curious about your relationship with Camilla?”

”Goodness, Olivia. Stop bringing dinosaurs in our bedroom. They're prehistoric and nonexistent. Let them stay in the museum, please.”

Olivia snorted. She could see smoke emit from Maxen's flaring nostrils. He rarely flipped on her. Maxen's patience was akin to a saint when it came to her tantrums. Sometimes she wondered if she deserved him.

But then again, she's not bad herself, just a little damaged. That's all.

Scrunching her nose, Olivia teased, ”Why are you so mad every time I bring her up? Are you still hung up on her?”

”Do you know what I still can't get over with? Seeing you in the cathedral about to get married with that 'arse'.” Maxen air quoted, mimicking Olivia's accent. The two shared a laugh at how their conversation got shallow.

After punctuating his sentence, their attention was stolen by a phone beeping on the bedside table. It told them that it one in the morning as time glowed on the screen.

Lying down on the bed, Maxen splayed his arm and tapped it, offering it for Olivia to lay down on. He was grateful that their conversation didn't spring out weeds that would lengthen their night.

Following his cue, Olivia slipped under the duvet, pulling it up to her chin. She hooked her leg on Maxen and c.a.r.e.s.sed her toe against his fuzzy shin.

She inhaled his skin's natural scent, one that told her she's home. He's her home. Tucking her demons inside a closet in her mind, she sought solace in the tightness of Maxen's cocoon.

His arms enveloped her in a sense of security no one else could give her and the beating of his arm sang her a lullaby to sleep.

He would be there, calling out her name, pushing her to conquer the walls she trapped herself in.